Forensic expert queries Colombia Three evidence

A British forensic expert has cast doubt on claims that the three Irishmen arrested in Colombia last August were in contact with explosives and cocaine.

Consultant Keith Borer, who worked on the Oklahoma bombing inquiry and the investigation into the murder of Jill Dando, said the methods used to test the men’s clothing were not accurate.

Mr Borer, who was commissioned by a solicitor for the three men to examine the evidence presented in the case, said no positive results were obtained and concluded that it was very unlikely that the men were contaminated with explosives as suggested.

James Monaghan, Martin McCauley and Niall Connolly were arrested in Bogota last year after leaving territory controlled by the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC), a rebel army which has been fighting the Government for 38 years.

Tests conducted by the US authorities, who are the helping the Colombian military in its war against FARC, showed traces of explosives and drugs on the men’s clothes.

The Colombian State Laboratory also conducted its own tests using different equipment.